Armillary sphere.



No. 855,226. PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

F. L. BRYANT.

ARMILLARY SPHERE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l ATTORNEYS WITNESS/5 E mmvrm 0% 3 9% ,1 v gy W No. 855,226. PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

1?. L. BRYANT. ARMILLARY SPHERE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1906.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

A TTOHNE Y8 FRANK L. BRYANT, or NEW YORK, N. ,Y.

ARMILLARY SPHEHRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed September 27,1906. Serial No- 386,437.

T0 at whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK L. BRYANT, citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Armillary Spheres, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the educational appliance known as an armillary sphere, that is, an a paratus for illustrating certain astronomica phenomena, and particularly the relation of sun and earth at different seasons and under 'difi'erent latitudes.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple apparatus of the above -indicated character, which will quickly and readily illustrate the apparent motion of the sun for any point of the globe and at any time of the ear as as ecial novel feature 111 a aratus includes means for convenientlyp otting shadow curves, that is curves such as are described on a horizontal surface by end of the shadow of a pole or like article.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved armillary sphere; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a top View and Figs. 4 and 5 are details drawn upon an enlarged scale, with parts in section.

My improved armillary sphere comprises a base A of any suitable construction, provided with guides A in which the meridian circle B rests loosely so that it may be slid in either directionto turn "about its own axis. This meridian circle is graduated from zero points to 90 on both sides. Secured to the meridian circle, at right angles thereto, are sunpath circlcs of which I prefer to employ three; one of them, C, the diameter of which is about equal to that of the meridian circle B, islocated at the zero points of the meridian circle, the other two, C, C, areof a smaller diameter and located at the points of the graduation marked 23 3 Each of the sunath circles C, C, C is'divided by marks 6 1nto twenty-four equal parts, corresponding to the hours of the day, and if desired, smaller subdivisions may be provided. The central sun-path circle Chas means for pivotally supporting a horizon-disk D. This means may consist of two brackets or bearing blocks E secured to the circle C at diametrically opposite oints, half-way between the points at whic said circle is connected with the meridian circle B; these blocks receive screws F having their ends fitted loosely (that is, not screwed) into openings D of the horizon disk. These 0 enings are practically inthe plane of the orizon-disk, and by engaging the screws F with them, said disk may-be pivotally supported in a central position within the space inclosed by the several circles.

For a purpose ful y ex lained hereinafter, the horizon-disk D may e dropped from its central position, and to enable this to be done, it is provided with upward brackets D having holes or sockets D adapted to'be engaged by the ends of the screws F. Figs. 1 and 5 show the horizon-disk in the dropped position; Fig. 2 shows it in the central position in full lines, and also indicates the dropped position by dotted lines. It will be understood that by screwing the screws F in or out in the bearing blocks E, they may be engaged with, or disengaged from the horizon-disk, which in either of its positions is ivotally supported by said screws, whic form pivot points.

In order to hold the horizon-disk D stationary, that is horizontal, I may secure to it a central tube 1) into which is fitted at the bottom a sliding rod G having a pin G arranged to move in a bayonet-slot D of the tube D The lower end of the rod G has a block G with pins G adapted to fit-into sockets A? of the base A and thus'lock the horizon-disk D against ivotal movement. When it is desired to re ease said disk, the rod G and the parts secured thereto are raised and locked in their elevated osition by turning the rod sothat its pin Cl will reach 'the horizontal member of the bayonet-slot D as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 1 shows the locking device dropped to its active po sition. It will be understood that the locking device may be dropped to engage the sockets A whether the horizon-disk is in the central position or in the lowered position.

In order that the meridian =circle B and the sun-path circles carried thereby may be adjusted accurately, I- .may rovide a pointer H carried by the horizon-disk U centrally and arranged to indicate the zenith point on the graduation of. the meridian circle B. In

order that the end of the ointer may be close to the meridian circle W ether the horizen-disk D is in the central or the lowered position, I have made the pointer H extensible by fitting it to slide U1 theupper ortion of the tube D and providing it wit a in H ada ted to rest either at the lower en or in the ateral member of a bayonet-slot D. The vertical distance between said lower end and the lateral branch of the bayonet-slot D is equal or approximately equal, to the vertical distance between the sockets D and D For most purposes, the apparatus is used with the horizon-disk D in the central position as shown in Fig. 2. The meridian circle B and the sun-path circles C, C, C are adjusted forthe intended latitude by slip ing the meridian circle in its guides A untl the pointer H indicates such latitude on the graduation of the meridian-circle B. Thus when the apparatus is adjusted to show con ditions at a point on the equator (latitude 0), as shown in Fig. 2, the pointer H indicates 0 on the meridian circle B, and the sunath circles extend vertically, or per endicu ar to the plane of'the horizon-dis D. It will be seen that in this casethe portion of each sun-path circle above the horizondisk (that is, the day portion of such circle) is equal to the portion below the horizondisk, thus indicating'that at the e uatorday and night are equal length al the year around. The central circle 0 indicates the path of the sun at the e uinox, showing that twice a year the sun wil rise to the zenith at the equator. By means of a graduation on the horizon-disk.D having its 0 points ad- I jacent to the pivots (east and west points) sun will reach at the equator.

and running up to-90 on both sides (north and south points), it will be seen at a glance which is the greatest variation north or south from the east and west points that the The apparatus also'shows that only at the equinox the sun will rise due east at the equator, and that this is true of every other latitude. The circle Cf illustrates the ath of the sun at the summer'solstice, and t e circle C 'shows the ath of the sun at the winter solstice. The ocking device may be dro ped to engage the sockets A so as to hol the horizon-disk stationary. By adjusting the apparatus in the guides A, the conditions obtamin under various latitudes can be clearly 1 strated. Thus it can be shown that for any point ofless than 231k latitude the sun ,willreach the zenith twice a point under 231} latitude te sun will reach the zenith only once; at the time of one of the solstices; that at a latitude of 661k there will be a day of 24 hours at one solstice and a night of hours at the other solstice;

ear; that for a.

that at any oint north or south of the equator, day an night are of unequallength except at the equinox; that the farther away a point is from the equator, the farther the sun will rise and set from the east and west points res ectively at the time of the solstices; an various other phenomena and conditions can be explained with great ease by the use of'my improved apparatus, as will be evident to any teacher of astronomy and of mathematical geography.

One of the exercises which is recommended to students is the plotting of a so-called shadow curve, that is the curve which is described by the end of the shadow of a pole or dropped as shown in Fig. 1, the pointer H is removed from the tube D and .a guide J is inserted in the. upper end of the tube, D;

this guide J has a forked upper end J which is located exactly at the center of the meridian circle D, that is, in line with the screws F; the guide J which is capable of turning in the tube D forms a support for a shadow tracing rod KP Various points of'a shadow are ascertained by resting rod K upon the guide J- and at the same time against one of the sunath circles'C, C- or 0 As illustrated in ig. 1, the apparatus has been adjusted for a point of the Northern Hemisphere under about 40 of latitude, and the curve has been plotted for the longest day of the year,

that is, at the summer solstice. Each of the black points indicates the position of the shadows end atia different hour, 'and'the points thus obtained are connected by a line as shown in drawing. The curve might be marked on the horizon disk D itself, but I consider it preferable to employ a sheet of 'cross section paper having the indications N. E. S. W. so that the sheet will be properly .positioned on the horizon'diskh The sheet may be held in position by friction or it may be secured by pins, thumb tacks, clamps or other devices.

I claim:

1,. An armi-llary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated about its own center in its own plane, sunpath circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, an interior horizon member located within said circles, and means forpivotally connecting said horizon member with the In} est sunpath -circle at points equidistant cm the connections of said circle with-the meridian circle.

too

an interior horizon member located within said circles, means for pivotallyconnecting said horizon member with the largest sunpath circle at points equidistant from the connections of said circle with the meridian circle, and a device for locking the horizon member to the base.

3. An armillary. sphere, comprising a base, 'a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so asto be capable. of being rotated about its own center in its own plane, sunpath circles extending at right angles to the meridian circleand connected therewith, a horizon member pivotally connected with the largest sun-path circle at points e uidistant from the connections of said circ c with the meridian circle, and a device for locking the horizon member to the base.

4. An armillary sphere, comprising abase, a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated about its own center in its own plane, sunpath circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon -disk located within said circles and means for pivotally connecting said disk with the largest sun-path circle at points equidistant from the connections of said circle with the meridian circle.

5. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon member, and means for pivotally connecting. said member, at

.difl'erent levels, with the largest sun-path circle at points e uidistant from the connec-' tions of said circ e with the meridian circle. 6. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circleloosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotatedinits own plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian'circle and connected therewith, a horizon disk located within the said circles .and provided with superposed sets of sockets, and pivotal supportin means adapted to engage either of sai sets of sockets and located on the largest sun-path circle at points equidistant from the connections of said circle with the meridian circle.

7. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle looselysupported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle' and conpoints equidistant from the connections of said circle with the meridian circle.

8. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own I plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon member having superposed sets of supporting points, and pivotal supporting means adapted to hold said member either in a central or in a lowered position and located on the largest sun-path circle at points e uidistant from the connections of said circ e with the meridian circle.

9. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon member having supcrposed sets of supporting points, pivotal'supporting means adapted to hold said member elther in acentral or in a lowered position extensible pointer projected centrally from the horizon member at a right angle to the plane thereof, to indicate on the meridian clrcle.

10. An armillary s here, comprising a base, a meridian circ e loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own plane, sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon disk and means for pivotally sup orting said disk at points above its plane, lbcated on the largest sunpath circle at points equidistant from the connectionsof said circle with the meridian circle.

11.' An armillary s here, comprising a base, a meridian circ e loosely supported thereon so as to be capable of being rotated in its own plane; sun-path circles extending at right angles to the meridian circle and connected therewith, a horizon disk, means forpivotally supporting said disk at points 'path circle at points equidistant from the connections of said circle with the meridian circle, a guide mounted to turn and projected.

upwardly at the center of the horizon disk to the center of the meridian circle, and a shadow-tracing rod adapted to rest on said guide.

12. An armillary sphere, comprising a base, a meridian circle loosely supported .above its plane, located on the largest sunthereon so as to be capable of being rotated ranged to hold the seine stationary in relato in its own plane, sun-path circles extending; 1 tion to the base.

at right angles to the meridian circle and In testimony whereof I have hereunto connected therewith, a horizon member signed my name in the presence of two subpivotally connected with the largest sun-path scribing Witnesses.

circle at points equidistant from the connec- FRANK L. BRYANT. tions of said circle with the meridian circle, Witnesses:

and a locking device, slidable up and down JOHN liOTKA,

relatively to said. horizon member and er- JOHN A. KEIIILENBECK. 

